AN: I do have a reason as to how Lucy is alive. It's a bit silly, but it's a concept that already exists in the story of Elfen Leid, so it isn't too farfetched. It'll play into the conflict of later chapters, but for now, just consider it a deus-ex-machina (haha, I made a pun).

Updates probably won't be this regular. I just wanted to get something out that had a bit more content than the admittedly light prologue.

Enjoy. Please leave a review to let me know your thoughts.

Chapter I: Gott aus dem Automaten

Bei Nacht im Dorf der Wächter rief: Elfe!
Ein ganz kleines Elfchen im Walde schlief
wohl um die Elfe!

From the peripherals of her senses, she could hear the churning of the ocean, the whizzing of machinery.

Und meint, es rief ihm aus dem Tal
bei seinem Namen die Nachtigall,
oder Silpelit hätt' ihm gerufen.

She struggled for consciousness, seeking to awaken from the darkness that shrouded her.

Reibt sich der Elf' die Augen aus,
begibt sich vor sein Schneckenhaus
und ist als wie ein trunken Mann,
sein Schläflein war nicht voll getan,

On and on she searched, wading through incoherent thoughts, trying to find something – anything – to latch onto.

"NYU!" She recalled a voice, his voice. Her anchor in the maelstrom that was life. She latched onto the memory. Letting the light of his existence warm her body.

und humpelt also tippe tap
durch's Haselholz in's Tal hinab,
schlupft an der Mauer hin so dicht,
da sitzt der Glühwurm Licht an Licht.

Memory after memory returned, like an intricate web. One memory would recall two others, each of those two more, and exponentially she gained an identity.

She remembered. His name, her promise to him. The betrayal that followed, and her final request.

Was sind das helle Fensterlein?
Da drin wird eine Hochzeit sein:
die Kleinen sitzen bei'm Mahle,
und treiben's in dem Saale.
Da guck' ich wohl ein wenig 'nein!

"Kill me."

So was she dead? Was this the afterlife? Purgatory, an existence confined in this darkness? With the sins she had committed, she figured purgatory to be a lenient punishment. The only thing she would regret was not being able to tell him how she felt. She would endure it, however. Luxuries like that were above her. She would accept her fate in this coffin.

Pfui, stößt den Kopf an harten Stein!
Elfe, gelt, du hast genug?
Gukuk!

The coffin surfaced from its burial at sea, washing ashore at a familiar beach.

Lucy woke with a start. A sudden lurching motion had triggered her senses, throwing her into full alert. It was then that she noticed faint lights from scattered LEDs. Various components and machinery surrounded her. Warily, she began running her hands across them, trying to glean any insight she could.

Soon she noticed what appeared to be a release hatch. She debated a moment before pulling it, startled as the canopy above her began to stir. The light of a setting sun, still comparatively bright in contrast to the dim electronics surrounding her, began to flood in as the cocoon cracked open and she reflexively shut her eyes to ward off the overstimulation.

She cracked her eyes open, testing to see if they had adjusted to the influx of light on her senses. Slowly they began to adjust, allowing her to take in more and more of her environment. A dense smoke, a mix of hydraulics and water vapor, clouded her immediate vision. So she tried moving; using muscles obviously weak from atrophy to pull herself up and over the ledge of the capsule she was in, landing on sandy ground.

Using the side of the pod as a brace, she began to lift herself up into a standing position, stopping to catch herself when her trembling threatened to cause her to collapse. No sooner had she gained her balance when she heard a voice.

"N-Nyu?"

Lucy jumped in shock at the knowledge of someone else being near. When she looked up to the source, her weak knees gave way.

"Kouta…" she managed as she slumped against the side of her vessel.

"Nyu!" Kouta shouted as he rushed to her side. All his questions and confusion were sidelined at the sight of her collapsing. Pulling her bare form into his arms, he cradled her like a newly born. "Nyu, are you alright?" he asked, concern heavy in his voice.

"Kouta, how…" she managed to get out. Her eyes fluttered as she tried to make sense of everything. "Is this heaven?" At this point, that possibility seemed as likely as any. Though how she had been allowed in was anyone's guess.

Kouta smiled at her comment. "No, Nyu, you're home." He had questions, so many questions, but for now they didn't matter. Nyu wasn't in any shape to answer them.

"Home…" she let out her own smile in spite of herself. Lucy had no idea what was going on, but decided that for the moment she didn't care. Kouta was holding her, and that's all that mattered. Closing her eyes, she snuggled further into his chest.

The pair stayed that way for a while, savoring the lost company of the other. Eventually, however, Kouta pulled slightly away from her, still holding her in his arms, but far enough away to speak. "Come on, let's get back to the inn." He suggested before standing up, careful to help Nyu keep her balance as he brought her up with him.

It was at that moment that he took the time to realize her state of undress. Oddly, he didn't feel awkward about it, he figured he had grown desensitized to it over time. However, he didn't want her to be seen going through the city like that. Luckily, Kouta had been wearing a sweater and a light cotton shirt underneath it to guard against the spring chill. Making sure Nyu could support herself without his assistance, he quickly removed the garment. She eyed him curiously as he partially disrobed, before handing her the sweater.

"Here, I figured you might want something to cover up with." He said with a light smile. It was then that Lucy noticed her clothing situation, or lack thereof. And while she had spent a good chunk of her life naked in front of people, for some reason with Kouta, she reacted very differently. Her face turned a deep crimson as she quickly snatched the article and began tugging it over her head, before her body reminded her of her weakened state and she collapsed onto her knees.

Kouta just shook his head. "Here," he said, moving behind her. "Let me help you." She fussed a bit before raising her arms, allowing him to pull the sweater over her. Carefully, he brought her back onto her feet.

"There, much better," he said, satisfied that the oversized sweater at least covered some of her modesty. "Wow, talk about déjà vu, right?" he commented, realizing the similarities to their first meeting.

"Right…" Lucy nodded, not quite sure what he was referring to, but not wishing to ask. A thought dawned on her. He was calling her Nyu. It was possible he hadn't realized that he wasn't talking to her other persona. The thought saddened Lucy, and she lowered her head slightly, hiding her eyes behind her long bangs. Kouta noticed and frowned.

"Hey, is something wrong?" he asked, concern evident.

"No," Lucy lied. "Nothing's wrong." She brought herself closer to him, not wanting him to see her face. "Let's just go home." She stated.

"Alright," Kouta nodded. Something was off about her, but he wasn't about to pry. Nyu was alive, and for now that's all that mattered. The two pattered along the beach as they made their way back to the Maple Inn.

Darkness had now fallen upon Kamakura as Kouta and Lucy entered through the city. Suddenly realization dawned on him, Diclonius weren't an unknown entity anymore; onlookers would easily recognize what Nyu was by her horns. And with the state of distrust people still had for them, Kouta wasn't willing to take any chances and reveal Nyu's identity.

Luckily, Kouta noticed a nearby convenience store. He was sure they would have ribbon or a hat or something to cover Nyu's horns with. Taking care to make sure there weren't any onlookers, Kouta led Nyu to the side of the building, away from any windows where people inside could look out and spot her. "Stay here for just a second," he told her. "I'm just going to head inside real quick." Lucy didn't know what reason Kouta could have to need to go in there, but chose not to argue and just nodded in agreement. That didn't stop Kouta from noticing her dejected look.

"We need something to cover up your horns. Diclonius are a bit more well-known now than they used to be." He reassured her. "I'm just going to see if they have hats or ribbons or something." She nodded again and he could tell that some of her hesitation had been eased. Satisfied, he entered the station.

A moment later, Kouta walked out with a blue wool cap. He handed it to her with a sheepish grin. "Here, I know it's not the best looking thing but it's all they had."

When Lucy took the hat into her hands she stopped in shock. It looked almost exactly like the hat Kouta had given her all those years ago. The quality was undoubtedly cheaper, it was to be expected of a convenience store, but nonetheless, the similarities were striking. She gave out a wistful smile at the memories it brought and put it on without a second thought.

With Lucy's horns now hidden, the two made their way back to the Maple Inn.

"Alright, just gotta get up the stairs and we're home." Kouta beamed. It would feel good to have Nyu back under the same roof.

Lucy let go of Kouta and took a hesitant step up the first step. When she found solid footing she grew in confidence and took another – and then fell over. Kouta was quick to grab her before she impacted the stone. "Nyu!" he let out in a semi panicked voice.

After he had made sure she was stable, Kouta put his hand to his chin in a thoughtful pose. "Hmm," he thought out loud. "Just having you hold onto me isn't going to make this much easier." He thought for a few more moments before inspiration struck him.

Lucy for her part was sitting on the steps in apprehension. Although she had been hopeful at the prospect of returning to her home, the closer they had drawn the more anxious she became. Was this really her home? It had been Nyu's, sure, but had it ever been Lucy's?

Her thoughts were cut short when she suddenly felt herself being lifted off the ground. She let out an audible squeak as she realized Kouta was carrying her up the steps bridal style. He gave her a sheepish smile "I can't think of a way to get you to walk up the stairs in your current situation so I'll have to carry you up." Lucy didn't respond and instead buried herself in his torso to hide her reddening face.

The two made it to the entrance and Kouta slowly set her down on her feet, making sure she was able to keep her balance. He opened the front door and ushered Lucy inside.

Checking the clock, Kouta noticed it was well past bed time for the rest of the residents. While placing his shoes on the mat he took note to make sure Mayu's were there. It wasn't that he didn't expect her to make it home, he had just grown protective of his "family" after the drama many months ago.

Noticing Lucy's increasingly brooding features he again prodded "I know you said you're fine, but are you sure there isn't anything wrong."

"Do I really belong here?" Lucy whispered, barely audible. She had to say something. She wasn't who Kouta thought she was.

"What? Of course you do." Kouta reassured, coming closer. "Nyu, this is your home." Lucy cracked, tears threatened to spill.

"Kouta, I'm not Nyu." She looked him in the eyes. He finally took notice of her features. She definitely wasn't Nyu. Nyu had kept her innocent eyes through everything she had endured. The eyes he was staring into weren't innocent, but grim with years of pain.

"Lucy…" he whispered. The one who he had met and befriended as a child, the one who had killed his father and little sister, the one who had saved his life when he had taken Kurama's bullet meant for her.

"Yes, Kouta," she turned her gaze to the floor, uncomfortable with how intently Kouta was staring at her. "I'm not Nyu, I shouldn't be he—"

"That doesn't change anything!" He cut her off. She jumped a bit at his tone and reflexively looked up at him before looking at anything but him. The fire and determination in his gaze was smoldering. She had only seen it one other time, when he had sworn vengeance for the family she slaughtered.

He put his hands on her shoulders and forced her to look at him. "Lucy, Nyu, I don't care, you belong here. This is your home."

"Kouta," the tears finally broke. "How can you sat that? After everything I've done, I shouldn't even be alive. I don't even know how I'm alive. I killed your family, I broke our promise that night right after you said you'd allow us to live together. I'm a monster." Kouta pulled her into a hug, tearing up himself.

"Because," he said in a harsh whisper, trying to keep a level voice. "Because, these last three months without Nyu, without you. They were hell. It was like losing my family all over again." He pulled back and took a breath, looking her in the eyes again. Despite his tears, he was smiling at her.

"You said it yourself, Nyu is a part of you. Just like your instincts to kill exist, so do your instincts to coexist." He took her hand in his. "I may not be able to forgive you for a long time, but at the very least I want to move forward."

Lucy's emotions swelled further and she buried herself once more in his embrace. "Kouta." She whispered. He was too good for her. What had she done to earn his kindness?

The two remained locked in the embrace for a time, the contact exchanging more than words ever could. Eventually they parted and Kouta spoke. "Come on, let's get to bed. We can talk more tomorrow." Though Lucy was reluctant to part with him, she nodded her head and the two made their way through the inn.

Kouta showed Lucy to her room, Nyu's old room, and wished her a good night. She replied in kind, but he didn't leave right away. It was as if Kouta was as reluctant to part with her as she was with him. Eventually he did however, and Lucy was alone with her thoughts.

Taking off her hat and Kouta's sweater, Lucy situated herself on the fouton, wrapping the blanket over her. Now that she had time to think, she began assessing the situation. The last thing she remembered before waking up on that pod was being near death, her body giving way under the force of entropy, the overexertion of her power. With her last bit of strength, and in defiance of the primal instinct that had begun overpowering her thoughts, she had handed Kouta Kurama's pistol, begging him to end her life.

And he had, and she had died. Yet, she had woken up in that pod that had washed ashore, feeling as though she had spent years in a coma. It was as if she had been rejected from hell and spit back upon the earth. Lucy gave a laugh at the thought. It made about as much sense as any other theory she had.

She tried to conjure up some explanation, some reason to explain her survival. But try as she might, there was nothing that could. She spent the rest of the night battling with her thoughts before an uneasy slumber took over.

A few rooms down, Kouta was finding sleep equally evasive. How had Lucy survived the events up on the Sea Candle? He had shot her, he had seen the SAT paramedic crew take what remained of her body and move it into a quarantine truck. Kurama had verified himself that Lucy was dead. Yet the woman he had just taken home was without a doubt his Lucy, his Nyu. Kouta wanted to tear his hair out in frustration. Was this some weird Diclonius power? Reincarnation? It seemed outrageous, but with some of the things he had seen in the past year, outrageous wasn't that difficult of a thing to achieve.

Then of course there was the fact that he would have to break the news to the other residents of the Inn. While Nana was abroad with Kurama; Nozomi, Mayu and Yuka still inhabited the place. While he was sure the three would happy to have their friend back, it would nonetheless be a difficult situation. All three of them had been up in the tower with him the night he had shot Lucy, and her return may open wounds that had barely started healing.

Nevertheless, Kouta felt they had to know. Even if he wished to hide Lucy away, with how many people the Inn housed, it would be almost impossible, and that would be before Nana came back and sensed her return.

Kouta groaned and shifted in bed. The best he could do is try to get some sleep and hope that the morning brought answers.

When morning did come, Kouta had gotten much less sleep than he otherwise would have liked. He had been woken by Yuka who was insistent on making sure he kept an appropriate sleep schedule for the upcoming semester. Deciding it would be best to get things over with sooner than later, he rounded up Mayu, Nazomi and Yuka and asked them to wait in the living room for him.

Now he stood in front of Lucy's room. He knew that no matter how he approached this it was going to be a baffling reveal for the three. He still barely understood it himself. Sleep hadn't brought the answers he sought, and he still didn't know how to approach the impending reveal.

Sighing, Kouta lightly rapped on Lucy's door. "Hey, you up?" He asked through the paper entrance. A moment and some rustling later and the door opened, revealing a very sleep deprived Lucy wrapped up in her blanket. "Oh, sorry. Did I wake you?" He apologized.

"No," she assured. "I barely slept." Kouta let out a laugh.

"It's somehow comforting to know I wasn't the only one," then he got a bit more serious. "We should tell the others you're back." He said, referring to the three other occupants of the inn.

Lucy sighed. She figured as much would happen. That didn't mean she was looking forward to it any more. "Yeah, I guess we should get this over with." She agreed. Then she remembered why she was wrapped up in the blanket. Suddenly she became a little more reserved.

"Hey, Kouta. Do you mind if I borrow some clothes. I'm kind of on short supply at the moment." She tried averting his gaze. She didn't know why the request felt so embarrassing, but it did.

Kouta just laughed. "Yeah, clothes might help." He excused himself and grabbed some garments, a large T-shirt and a pair of boxers that worked well as shorts for Lucy. She closed her door to get changed quick and then met him in the hallway.

"Alright, let's do this." She said more to herself than him.

Kouta was the first to enter the living room. Yuka, Nozomi, and Mayu – with Wanta perched in her lap – were all seated at the table waiting for Kouta. Yuka noticed him and perked up. "Oh, Kouta, what did you want to talk to us about?" Mayu and Nozomi nodded in agreement.

Kouta scratched the back of his head for a moment, trying to articulate what he wanted to say, before simply replying, "Someone found their way back home." He stepped to the side, revealing Lucy to the three girls.

Surprise was evident in all of their features as Lucy stood there, feelings slightly uncomfortable under their gazes; it was as if they were seeing a ghosts. For all intents and purposes, they were. Yuka was the first to say anything, "Nyu?" Then she took a closer look. "No… Lucy. But, but how?"

Kouta led her to the table and they both took a seat. "I'm not quite sure myself," he admitted. "I found her while walking down the beach last night. She was inside of some weird capsule looking device." Then he turned to look at Lucy, who was busy looking at a very interesting groove in the table. His features softened.

"I'm not quite sure she knows how, either."

"But… we saw you die. How could you even…" Yuka struggled for the words. "I mean, I know there's a lot about Diclonius that are, well, supernatural. But defying death?"

Lucy grit her teeth, not knowing how to respond. She was being asked questions she didn't know the answers to. "I don't know." She finally breathed out. Looking up to meet Yuka's gaze, the girl could see the torrent of confusion and helplessness in Lucy's eyes. "The last thing I remember before yesterday was being up in that tower. Of dying in that tower. Then… nothing. An eternity of nothing. Then I woke up in that pod that Kouta found me in."

Mayu finally interjected, having had time to wrap her head around the situation. "I don't understand how Miss Lucy survived, and it's obvious she doesn't either. But does it really matter? If Miss Lucy is back, shouldn't that be enough?" Wanta yapped as if in agreement.

Nozomi nodded. "I may not have known Lucy well, but Nyu was a great friend. If she's returned to us then that's enough for me. The reasons are secondary."

Lucy blinked in confusion. The support and acceptance of Kouta, while invaluable, was in line with how she knew him to act. But these others, who she had barely known, showing such an outpouring of kindness was unfamiliar to her. Of course they had known Nyu, the other her, but for Lucy such compassion was more or less a foreign concept.

Yuka surveyed the room as each girl gave their testament and slowly nodded in agreement. "I suppose you're right. I don't mean to be to be rude, I'm just confused is all." She returned her gaze to the now visible shaken Lucy. "It's good to have you back."

Smiling, Kouta put a hand on Lucy's shoulder. "Welcome home." Lucy stared up at him, struggling to respond. She did, however.

"I'm home."

(Somewhere in the forests of Hokkaido)

Brush gave way to the bare dirt as a lone girl trekked through the forest. Hovering behind her was the carcass of a large bear, the fruits of her hunt. Coupled with the efforts of the other hunters, it would be enough to provide for her hive.

Living out here in complete detachment from society was difficult, but necessary. The humans saw them as the enemy, so they had to hide; bide their time, build up their strength and numbers. One day they would get back, take their revenge for all the sisters killed. But for now, it was best if the world never knew they existed.

Besides, she could feel her power growing every day. As her body adjusted to her new role in society, she knew it was only a matter of time. If the power Lucy had displayed on that night three months ago was any indication, soon even the Vector Attack Crafts would be child's play to deal with. Those abominations that desecrated the bodies of her dead sisters angered her to no end. But they would receive justice.

She had just about made it home when something struck her sixth sense. Something that challenged her power.

She grit her teeth. "Lucy."

Fortsetzung folgt…